Container



July 6, 1937.` J. M. i-loTl-nRsgLL` CONTAINER Filed March 29, 1955 Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEv CONTAINER Application March 29, 1935, serial No. 13,763

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to fibre containers for packaging liquids and has particular reference to a construction of fibre body and fibre ends together with closure elements for one end which will insure maintenance of sanitation in a container prior to and following the filling of the same with liquid and at the same time will lend i itself to certain manufacturing and marketing conditions as will be hereinafter set forth.

In some respects the instant invention is an improvement on my pending application filed in the United States Patent Office March 2, 1933, as Serial Number 659,255 on Container.

A particular adaptation of the present invention relates to packaging milk and is designed among other things to facilitate the filling of the milk at the dairy, the delivery of the milk from the dairy to the ultimate consumer and to easy opening and dispensing by the latter. This milk delivery feature is usually a daily house to house incident which now largely involves glass bottles. While the act of filling and the act of delivery may at first be considered to be only remotely incidental to the present invention, upon reflection it becomes evident that the container of the invention may be said to be concerned in point of time with its receipt in sealed condition at the dairy and its opening, iilling and resealing, then with its delivery to the housewife, its opening by her and the final dispensing or emptying of the container,V

Fibre bottles or containers have already been used in a small way to take the place of the ordinary glass bottle in packaging milk and such fibre bottles have been and are advantageous in providing single service packages. However, the fibre containers heretofore used for packaging ,milk have left much to be desired in simplicity of handling of the container and in creating and maintaining germ-free conditions in the container prior to and following the filling of the milk therein, and it is to overcoming such major problems that the present invention is directed.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an improved sealing and closing element in a iibre container which closing element is embodied in a container adapted to be made and sealed in a can factory where facilities are present for carrying on the work of manufacture in the most expeditious manner and under the best of sanitary conditions.

The container of the instant invention, like that disclosed in my pending application referred to above, is hermetically sealed and closed against the entrance of germs when it is received in the (Cl. 229-7) i dairy preparatory to filling. With such a sanitary package it is only necessary for the dairy to open, fill and reclose the same.

The construction of the container of the instant invention has been simplified as much as possible so that these operations of opening, filling and reclosing will require relatively simple machinery in the dairy, such machinery and operation being carried out so that there will not be the danger of contamination or recontamination of either the milk going into the container, or of the various parts of the container which come into contact with the milk.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fibre container of the character described which is particularly adaptable to easy opening and simple reclosing so that thecontainer may be filled and the milk sealed .therein by relatively simple steps which entirely prevent or at least reduce any danger of contamination to a minimum.

The invention further contemplates the construction of a iibre milk container or bottle composed almost entirely of fibre parts which after assembly as a completed unit are liquid proofed both inside and out with paraiiin or other suitable coating.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a container embodying the present invention and illustrating the same sealed and in the condition it is received at the dairy prior to filling.

Fig. 2 is a'top plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional View showing Athe container body as viewed along the section line 3-3 in Fig. 1; l

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the container after it has been filled and placed into a suspended position, this being a,position in which the container may be disposed by the dairyman when he delivers it to the housewife, parts of the container being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the filled container after it has been opened and its liquid contents is being dispensed; and

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional View on line 6-6 of Fig. 2 and showing the proximity of the expanded closure plug of the container to the reenforced rim or end seam of the latter.

The container shown in the drawing and which constitutes the embodiment of the invention at present preferred consists primarily of a rectangular body II having a bottom closure I2 and a top closure I3.

The body II is preferably formed from a single sheet of fibrous material which is folded to provide four side walls I4 which in the present embodiment are of equal width and equal height, thus constituting a square body in cross section (Fig. 3). Two of the vertical sides of the body blank are each provided with a flap l5 and these two aps are joined along a vertical overlapping seam I 6 which may beformed at one corner or in any other position of the body.

'I'he bottom closure I2 is preferably blanked from a flat disc of fibrous material and is then interlocked with the bottom end of the body to form the container. The bottom joint of this interlocked union is provided by the body being beaded inwardly at I1 to form an inwardly projecting circumferentially disposed bead I8 on which the bottom closure I2 is seated. The terminal or marginal edges of the body II adjacent its bottom end are then bent over as at I9 to conne the marginal edges of the bottom closure and to hold the same securely against the peripheral bead I8, this completing the interlocked joint.

The top closure I3 is similarly interlocked with the upper edge of the body and for this purpose the walls of the latter are bent inwardly at 2| to provide an inwardly projecting circumferentially disposed bead 22. The top closure I3 is permanently seated on this bead and its terminal edges are bent over at 23 to confine the marginal edges of the top closure member. Top closure I3 is also provided with a discharge opening 24 which is located adjacent one corner of the container.

A brous auxiliary closure member 25 is also provided and is located exteriorly of the top closure I3. The center portion of this auxiliary member is secured to the top closure in any suitable manner as by staples 26 which pass through both auxiliary and top closure parts and are clinched under on the inside of the container.

One end section of the closure member 25 lays over the opening 24 of the top member and is formed with a drawn plug section 21 which is adapted when the container is first assembled to t Within and close the discharge opening 24 by completely filling the same. 'I'he plug section in its inserted position is adjacent one corner of the container and its outer part is extended beyond the opening 24 and toward the corner where it forms a nger tab 28. This tab normally rests down against the turned back portion 23 of the body wall where Ait extends adjacent the corner.

A hanging tab 29 is formed on the opposite side of the attached central part of the auxiliary closure member 25 and is preferably provided with an opening 30. This portion of the auxiliary closure member lies directly against the outer surface of the top closure I3 when the container parts are first assembled.

The formed container comprising the three principal elements, namely, body II, ends I2 and- I3 and also the auxiliary closure member 25, are covered inside and out with a liquid proofing material such as paran. In this coating step in the manufacture of the container it has been found satisfactory to dip and completely submerge the container into a heated and liquid parafn bath and to also ill the container with paraffin. This is done in a can manufacturing plant where germ free conditions are efficiently maintained and in addition the heated paraln itself has a decided germicidal action.

In order to properly ll the container with the liquid paraffin in this coating step, the auxiliary closure member is flexed along its central stapled section as the plug 21 is pulled out of the discharge opening 29. This liquid contacts all interior surfaces including the exposed ends of the staples 26. While the parain is still in its heated and liquid form, it is drained fromthe container 'and the plug section 21 is immediately returned to its normal position Within the discharge opening 24. This is done before the liquid paraffin congeals and the paraffin remaining on all of the interior surfaces and that which flows between the plug and the walls surrounding the discharge opening sets as it cools. A lining 3l on the inside of the container results and provides a liquid proof coating.

On the exterior of the container there is also a continuous lining 32 of protecting paraffin. 'I'hese two coatings 3|, 32 insure a liquid proofed, germ proofed container which is hermetically sealed against any entrance of germs. It is in this sealed condition that the container is sent to the dairyman and it therefore makes little difference when the container is filled inasmuch as it remains completely sanitary as long as its plug section 21 is in closing position.

When the container is received at the dairy and is rea'dy to be lled the plug section 21. is again lifted from the discharge opening 24 by manipulation of the finger tab 28 and an opening or entrance into the container is thus eiected. However, such an opening need only be sucient to receive a lling nozzle which may be partially projected into the container. In some cases it has been found advantageous at this time to heat the parained container adjacent its corner where the discharge opening 24 is located so that the plug section of the auxiliary closure member can be more easily removed.

The container is then filled with the milk or other liquid if other liquid is being handled, the contents being designated by the numeral 33. The plug section 21 is again returned into place within the opening and the finger tab 28 is again brought down on the top of the container. At thistime the plug section 21 is preferably slightly altered in shape by a suitable expanding tool or otherwise which forms a circumferential bead 35 (Fig. 4). The bead is pressed out from the side wall of the plug section 21 and is directly beneath the top closure I3. This effectively seals the filled container and holds the plug section of the auxiliary member in closing position.

This is the condition of the filled container when delivered to the housewife by the diary. In some instances it is desirable to hang the bottle in a convenient position and when this is done the hanging tab 29 may be bent into a vertical position as disclosed in Fig. 4. The opening 30 of the tab may then be slipped over a supporting hook 36 secured into a suitable position on a wall or other supporting structure 31.

When the milk is to be used by the housewife she catches hold of the nger tab 28 and lifts the plug section 21 from the discharge opening 24, the expanded bead section 35'thereupon snapping out of the discharge opening. The liquid 33 can thereupon be easily poured from the bottle by a mere tipping of the same as indicated in Fig. 5;

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material ad-A vantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. A container for liquids, comprising a fibre body terminating at its opposite ends in inwardly projecting marginal portions, a fibre end permanently secured to said body, said end having a discharge opening, and a fibre auxiliary member hingedly secured to said end adjacent said discharge opening and having e plug section adapted to enterand close the same, said plug sectionbeing expanded inside of the wall of said end to more effectively close said opening, said auxiliary member also having a finger tab adjacent said plug section and overlying the inwardly projecting marginal body portions to permit lifting of th-e latter from its seat in said discharge opening to uncover the same and to open said container.

2. A container for liquids, comprising a bre body, a fibre end permanently secured to said body, said end having a discharge opening, and a nbre auxiliary closure member mounted on the outside of said end and having its central portion secured thereto, said closure member being formed with a plug section adapted to enter into and close sai-d end discharge opening and also being formed with a finger tab extended beyond its plug section and on the same side of its 'attached central portion by means of which said plug section is lifted from its closing position inside of said discharge opening when the container is opened the while bending the central portion of said closure member, the latter also extending on the opposite side of its attached central portion into a hanging tab which is bendable into right angle position for supporting said container.

3. A container for liquids, comprising a rectangular fibre body, a rectangular nbre end permanently secured to one end of said body, said end having a discharge opening located adjacent one corner and centered on a diagonal line extending between its adjacent corner and its opposite corner, and a fibre auxiliary closure member located on the outside face of said end and centered on said diagonal line and hingedly secured centrally of said end, said closure member being formed at one side of said hinge with a drawn plug section which extends into and closes said discharge opening when the container is closed, said closure including a portion extending on the opposite side of said hinge to constitute a hinging tab adapted to be bent into right angle position for supporting the container, said plug section being lifted to remove it from its closing position and to open the container when ,said closure member is bent adjacent its attached center.

4. A container for liquids, comprising a bre body terminating at its opposite ends in inwardly projecting marginal portions, a fibre end permanently secured to said body, said end having a discharge opening, and a bre auxiliary closure member hingedly secured to said end adjacent said discharge opening and adapted to cover the same, said closure member having a finger tab portion overlying said inwardly projecting marginal portion and an impervious coating distributed on all exposed interior and exterior surfaces of said container when said discharge opening is covered by saidclosure member to hermetically seal the container.

5. A rectangular iibre container for liquids, comprising a liquid proof tubular fibre body, said body at one end terminating in an inwardly projecting peripheral flange, and a fibre end member for closing the end of said tubular body, said end member having its outer annularmarginal edge firmly held in engagement with said inwardly projecting flange to provide a surrounding reenforced rim at said body end, said end member having a discharge opening at one `:orner adjacent said reenforced rim, and an auxiliary closure member including a plug section adapted to extend into and close said discharge opening, said plug section having a portion fixedly secured to said end member at a point spaced substantially diagonally inward from said corner, said plug section being adapted to be expanded laterally below said end member to extend substantially to spaced portions of said reenforced rim adjacent said corner after the container is filled, whereby said rim cooperates with an end closure supporting shoulder and receiving channel, said at end member having its marginal edge firmly held in said receiving channel and providing a reenforced seam, said end mem-l ber having a round dispensing opening adjacent one corner of the end member and adjacent the seam, and an auxiliary closure member including a removable plug section for entering and closing said opening, said plug section having a portion xedly secured to said end member at a point spaced substantially diagonally inward from said corner and having a flat peripheral lflange for overlapping said seam at its adjacent corner to form a seal therewithsaid plug section being adapted to enter said dispensing opening to contact the edges thereof, the ver'- tical wall of said plug section being adapted to be expanded outwardly below said end member whereby said reenforced seam cooperates 'with said plug member in its engagement beneath the end member to further reenforce the plugl sectio-n against inadvertent opening of the closure and displacement of the plug section due to sudden shocks and strains.

7. A rectangular fibre container for liquids, comprising a liquid proof tubular fibre body, said body at one end terminating in an inwardly projecting peripheral flange, and a fibre end member for closing the end of said tubular body, said end member having its outer annular marginal edge firmly held in engagement with said inwardly projecting flange to provide a surrounding reenforced rim at said body end, said end member having a discharge opening at one corner adjacent said reenforced rim, and an auxiliary closure member including a plug section adapted to extend into and close said discharge opening, said plug section having a peripheral flange for overlapping said' rim at its adjacent corner to form a sea1 therewith and having a the end member due to sudden shocks and strains, portion xedly secured to said end member at a said container parts being covered with an irnpoint spaced substantially diagonally inward pervious coating to render them liquid proof and from said corner, said plug section being adapted to forma sealing means between said overlap- 5 to be expanded laterally below said end memping peripheral ange of said plug section and 5 ber to extend substantially to spaced portions said reenforced rim and between said expanded of said reenforced rim adjacent said corner aftplug. section and the walls of said dispensing er the container is lled, whereby said rim coopening. operates with said plug section to reenforce the 10 latter against inadvertent disengagement from JOHN M. HOTHERSALL. 10 

